architecture in denmark surveys the contemporary condition of the country’s built environment, showcasing a range of innovative projects and the diverse materials and unconventional forms employed in their construction.

bjarke ingels group / BIG is a copenhagen and new york-based firm that operates within the fields of architecture, urbanism, research and development. its practice emerges out of a careful analysis of how contemporary life constantly evolves and changes. the office is involved in a large number of international projects like west 57th in manhattan, the kimball art center expansion in utah, grand bay miami in miami, the danish national maritime museum in helsingør, and the danish pavilion at the 2010 shanghai expo.

bjarke ingels group has completed a residential building in copenhagen that provides accommodation for low-income citizens. named after its address in the northwestern part of the danish city, ‘dortheavej’ winds through an area characterized by car repair shops and other industrial buildings from the mid 20th century. the timber-clad five-storey structure contains a total of 66 generously proportioned homes with 3.5-meter-high ceilings (11.5 ft) and outdoor terraces.

BIG was commissioned for the project by lejerbo, a non-profit affordable housing association. the brief called for the creation of much needed affordable housing and public space, while keeping the site’s existing pedestrian passageways open and the adjacent green yard untouched. conceived as a porous wall, the building gently curves at its center, creating space for a public plaza on the south side and an intimate green courtyard to the north. at street level, the building opens up to allow both residents and the general public to pass into the courtyard.

the building provides accommodation for low-income citizens

the height of the building matches the scale of the surrounding neighborhood, with the stacked nature of the design creating space for the small outdoor terraces to the south. long wooden planks cover the façade on all sides, accentuating the checkered pattern. internally, large floor-to-ceiling windows ensure daylight and views — qualities that define the project’s living spaces. meanwhile, the square created by the building’s curve has been landscaped with cherry trees and spaces for bicycle parking.

the square created by the building’s curve features cherry trees and bicycle parking

‘affordable housing is an architectural challenge due to the necessary budget restrictions,’ explains bjarke ingels.‘we have attempted to mobilize modular construction with modest materials to create generous living spaces at the urban as well as the residential scale. the prefabricated elements are stacked in a way that allows every second module an extra meter of room height, making the kitchen-living areas unusually spacious’.

the site’s existing pedestrian passageways had to remain open the public

‘by gently adjusting the modules, the living areas open more towards the courtyard while curving the linear block away from the street to expand the sidewalk into a public square,’ ingels continues.‘economical constraints often lead to scarcity — at dortheavej, we have managed to create added value for the individual as well as the community.’

‘our ambition was to create affordable apartments by the world’s leading architects,’ adds jan hyttel, president, lejerbo copenhagen.‘together with BIG, we have succeeded in creating sustainable, safe and functional homes that see eye to eye with the people who live in them.’

large floor-to-ceiling windows ensure daylight and views

a small terrace provides valuable outdoor space

ceiling heights reach 3.5 meters, or 11.5 feet

the building opens up to allow both residents and the general public to pass into the courtyard

long wooden planks cover the façade on all sides

the stacked nature of the design creates space for small outdoor terraces to the south

Wonderful design. Wish these would come to Colorado…there is a need. ‘Affordable housing’ is subjective, so please say if these are ‘For Rent’ or ‘For Sale”. Either way, what’s the cost in euros/dollars ?

to have a nice wooden design on the outside you get flats with steps from a room to another: what about old-low-income citizens on a wheelchair? this is not design for people, this is design for magazines

Brilliant. Never thought I would like a BIG project or design but this neatly solves the problem of stacking modular units. As far as each unit being accessible internally, perhaps it is ok to have universal units either entirely on the ground floor or in another project because the savings achieved by eliminating redundant materials and transport and assembly is remarkable.

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